Nutritionists have long touted the heart-healthy benefits of extra-virgin olive oil .

Recently , researchers found that consuming a Mediterranean diet heavy in olive oil can help lower some heart risks . Consuming more than four tablespoons a day can significantly lower your risk of having a heart attack , suffering from a stroke or dying of heart disease , according to the recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine .

Olive oil is high in a type of fat known as monounsaturated fat , according to the Mayo Clinic . MUFAs , as they 're commonly called , can help lower your cholesterol and control insulin levels in the body . In addition to olive oil , they can be found in avocados , nuts and fatty fish .

Of course , that does n't mean you can go overboard . Even though it 's made of `` healthy fats , '' olive oil is still high in calories and should be used in moderation . Here are five things you might not know about this Mediterranean staple :

It helps more than your heart . Olive oil is full of polyphenols , a type of antioxidant that helps protect your cells from damage . Certain polyphenols also have anti-inflammatory properties .

Scientists have been exploring the effects these polyphenols may have on bone and digestive health as well as looking into how they could help prevent cancer . Other researchers are looking into olive oil 's potential for improving cognitive function and memory .

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Your oil may not be extra-virgin . In 2011 , reporter Tom Mueller released his book `` Extra Virginity : The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil . '' In it , he revealed a world of deception where low quality oils and artificial coloring were being passed off as extra-virgin olive oils to the American public .

`` Virgin means made with physical processes , not with chemistry , '' Mueller told NPR . `` Essentially , you crush an olive and out drops the oil in extreme synthesis . ''

There are laws in Europe monitoring the use of an `` extra-virgin '' label , but the United States does not have strict regulations , according to Mueller .

And when companies taint the oil , Mueller said consumers lose `` that wonderful cocktail of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants . ''

How you store it matters . When you 're at the grocery store , look for olive oil that comes in a bottle made from dark green glass or another material that protects it from light , says Dr. John La Puma , founder of ChefMD.com .

Heat and light can damage the oil by creating oxidation , which changes the beneficial chemical compounds . Store your olive oil in a room-temperature cupboard or in the refrigerator to keep it cool .

A bottle of oil will last about a year on your shelf , according to the Stillwater Olive Oil Co. `` After this time , the taste and health benefits , such as Vitamin E , beta-carotene , and other phenol levels decrease dramatically , '' the company 's website states .

Americans buy a lot of it . Olive oil is one of the fastest-growing global industries , according to a report from Research and Markets , an international market research and data site . While Spain and Italy top the list of both producers and consumers , Americans seem to have jumped on the Mediterranean diet bandwagon in full force .

The United States ranks third on the list of the world 's largest olive oil consumers . But the U.S. may not be there for long , according to the report .

`` It is expected that in the near future , India and China will be on the list of largest consumers of olive oil , as people have started recognizing the health benefits of olive oil and have accepted it as cooking oil , '' a release from the site says .

You do n't have to eat it . Olive oil beauty products are a multibillion dollar business , according to the industry website Olive Oil Source .

`` What many consumers do n't realize is something that people living millennia ago in ancient Greece took for granted ; that extra virgin olive oil , all by itself , is one of the best beauty secrets , '' the site says .

The same antioxidants that heal your internal cells may help protect your outer layer from damage . Olive oil can now be found in everything from skin moisturizers to nail care kits .

If you 're not ready to spring for the professional products , you can use olive oil at home to create a hair mask or as a cheap eye makeup remover .

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Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats , which may help your heart

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The United States does not have strict regulations about labeling a bottle `` extra-virgin ''

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Olive oil beauty products are a multibillion dollar business